1944 Stanley Cup Finals Explained

Year:

1944

Team1:

Montreal Canadiens

Team1 Short:

Montreal

Team1 Captain:

Toe Blake

Team1 Coach:

Dick Irvin

Team1 1:

5

Team1 2:

3

Team1 3:

3

Team1 4:

5*

Team1 Tot:

4

Team2:

Chicago Black Hawks

Team2 Short:

Chicago

Team2 Coach:

Paul Thompson

Team2 Captain:

Doug Bentley

Team2 1:

1

Team2 2:

1

Team2 3:

2

Team2 4:

4*

Team2 Tot:

0

Gm4 Ot:

|table-note=* – Denotes overtime period(s)|location1=Montreal: Montreal Forum (1, 4)|location2=Chicago: Chicago Stadium (2, 3)|dates=April 4–13, 1944|series_winner=Toe Blake (9:12, OT)|hofers=Canadiens:
Toe Blake (1966)
Emile Bouchard (1966)
Bill Durnan (1964)
Elmer Lach (1966)
Buddy O'Connor (1988)
Maurice Richard (1961)
Black Hawks:
Doug Bentley (1964)
Bill Mosienko (1965)
Earl Seibert (1963)
Clint Smith (1991)
Coaches:
Dick Irvin (1958, player)}}The 1944 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-seven series between the Chicago Black Hawks and the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens swept the Black Hawks to win their first Stanley Cup since they defeated Chicago in .^[1]

Paths to the Finals

Chicago defeated the defending champion Detroit Red Wings in a best-of-seven 4–1 to advance to the Finals. Montreal defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in a best-of-seven 4–1 to advance to the Finals.

Game summaries

Maurice "Rocket" Richard made his Stanley Cup debut with a five-goal performance in the series, including a hat trick in game two. The Punch Line of Richard, Elmer Lach and Toe Blake scored ten of the Canadiens' 16 goals. Blake scored the Cup winner in overtime. In the same overtime, Bill Durnan stopped the first penalty shot awarded in the Finals, awarded to Virgil Johnson.

Stanley Cup engraving

The 1944 Stanley Cup was presented to Canadiens captain Toe Blake by NHL President Red Dutton following the Canadiens 5–4 overtime win over the Black Hawks in game four.

The following Canadiens players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup

1943–44 Montreal Canadiens

See also

• 1943–44 NHL season
• 1943–44 Chicago Black Hawks season
• 1943–44 Montreal Canadiens season

References and notes

• Book: Diamond, Dan . Total Stanley Cup . 2000 . Total Sports Canada . Toronto . 978-1-892129-07-9 . registration .
• Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Bolton, Ont.: Fenn Pub. pp 12, 50.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Stanley Cup Champions 1940-1949. 2021-08-07. NHL.com. en-US.